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Publisher's Summary

From the sumptuous private drawing rooms of 18th-century Paris to the decadent estates and chateaus of the French countryside, La Marquise de Merteuil and Le Vicomte de Valmont hatch a long-distance plan of vengeance and seduction.

Valmont is determined to conquer the famously pious Madame de Tourvel, whose husband is abroad on business. However, Merteuil has other plans. She enlists his involvement in the seduction of a young convent girl, Cécile Volanges, the wife-to-be of the Marquise's former lover. But as they race toward the culmination of their plans, events start to spiral out of control, and they realise that they might not be as in control of their hearts as once they thought.

It's told in letters as the book, the performances are second to none and I really enjoyed it. I would have loved to have seen the Donmar production, Janet Mcteer and Dominic West are fabulous actors but sadly distance and cost prevented this. This is a good insight to how electric the play would be. It's really an excellent story and a nice quickie listen.

This dramatisation from the cast of the Donmar production is worth listening to for Janet McTeer alone. Her Marquise de Merteuil was incredible. Sensual, scathing, scandalous. If you are new to Laclos, this is a great place to start. I read an English translation many years ago and loved it, but this version brought it to life for me. It has left me wanting to read the original, and i'll be purchasing it after finishing the review (yes, i'm THAT enthused).

It seems to me that Laclos' work has a real modern relevance. We live in a society in which a person is still judged on their sexual self. Whether that be the sexual preference they claim, how they go about their romantic/sexual lives, or how their sexuality is displayed to others. People still talk of 'conquest' over another, if not always using that specific word, the idea is the same. We have online sites for showcasing clips of sexual acts unknowingly filmed, for revenge porn, for rating the attractiveness and 'easiness' of others. 'Slut' and 'whore' are judgment terms that still have real power. Perhaps the men reading this will correct me if i'm wrong, but I don't think there are words used with the same derision for male behaviour, even 'manwhore' and 'male slut' are not without positive connotations, part of male banter. This has been my experience of male-female heterosexual relations, and I wonder how these themes are played out within the homosexual or trans communities. Without a doubt, external, societal judgment is still evident.

For this reason, the most significant character has always been, for me, La Marquise de Merteuil. Valmont, the rake, the seducer, the ruiner of women is a male character so often done, before and since, as to be stereotypical. La Marquise, on the other hand, demands to be his equal, or even better: in manipulation, in deceit, in pursuit of pleasure. She makes precisely this point. His machinations, his successes, are all the more easy because of his gender, and the resulting freedoms it accords him.

In any case, I love this format in literature. Private letters dispatched at cross purposes allows for an intriguing and amusing insight into character; what they say to one person and hide from another, virtuous and indignant here, debauched and desirous there. An excellent reflection of the multitude of selves we all hold.

Having watched and read various versions of this classic story, it was about time to listen to the original. Hands down, nothing beats this version - a far worse outcome than some of the other depictions. A definite cautionary tale of the consequences of the games that people play with each other.

I missed this play at the Donmar in London and doubly kicked myself when it transferred straight to Broadway. This recording by the play's actors is incredible - such charisma in the voices, and to my surprise, I understood every character's plot twists without having to see the actors 'in action'. Brilliant and highly recommended.

Well it is fun and a couple of times really profound on what could have been those times. I thought that sometimes I was at a theater seeing these big passions and maledies happen. Did it happen? For sure it did

Got this on the daily deal and think I got what I paid for. Really not my cup of tea and just a bit pointless.I guess it titillated in its day but to my mind it was a little sad, that may be the point?

This was an abridged full-cast performance, in epistolary form, of the play, which is based on the 1782 novel about French aristocrats engaging in recreational adultery and competitive seduction. It's marvelously acted with all the venom and petty viciousness befitting scheming, amoral aristocrats whose only ambition is sex and the ruination of lives.

The Marquise de Merteuil (played in the 1988 movie by Glenn Close) is a rich widow who has clawed her way to the top the only way a woman can in her society. Sexually rapacious and (deep down) embittered by the double standards that allow men to boast of their conquests while women have to carefully guard their reputations, she enjoys manipulating people and ruining lives, and enlists a friend of hers, the equally amoral playboy Vicomte de Valmont, to deflower the virginal fiancee (played in the movie by a young Uma Thurman) of a lover who just broke up with her. He has his own conquests in mind, however, and the two of them spar with at first friendly affection as they execute their separate schemes, but the two of them wind up ruining lives, breaking hearts, and eventually, causing more than one death as their rivalry escalates.

One might be forgiven for concluding that the moral of the story is that the entire French aristocracy were worthless parasites who deserved the tumbrils soon to come.

It's a great story, which I downloaded as an Audible freebie. As much as I enjoyed the 1988 movie, the cast here is perfect.

5 of 5 people found this review helpful

DJDecca

San Francisco Bay Area

06/02/16

Overall

Performance

Story

"Dangerous Indeed"

What made the experience of listening to Les Liaisons Dangereuses the most enjoyable?

Every performer was stellar. There's a wonderful sense of this being an actual ensemble, which is hardly surprising since this is the cast of the current London revival.

What did you like best about this story?

The deliciously twisted relationship between the two main characters.

Which scene was your favorite?

It's hard to chose just one. But the last 1/4 of the book is all captivating.

If you could take any character from Les Liaisons Dangereuses out to dinner, who would it be and why?

Valmont. Although I'd bring a chaperone since he can't be trusted.

4 of 4 people found this review helpful

Stephanie Leahy

02/02/16

Overall

Performance

Story

"Interesting and captivating performance!"

Depressing, and short, but intriguing. Very easily listened to all in one go. You're sorely tempted to root for the happiness of one side or the other, but the rivals are determined to be in a contest of who can be the most deplorable. The acting in this piece is excellent, and the consequences it paints for deception and carelessness are severe.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Naima Anne Haviland

Florida

02/02/16

Overall

Performance

Story

"Amazing"

Amazing theatrical performances, beautiful music, and portions of the wisely chosen make this audiobook a must for fans of DL.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

TW Brown, Author, Editor, and Reviewer

Estacada, Oregon

01/03/16

Overall

Performance

Story

"Times they have a-changed."

Before the daily soaps, there were stories like this.It is incredible how much culture has changed over the centuries. One instance in particular that is related in this "letter" format tale would be considered rape and child molestation by today's standards. No, there is nothing graphic, it is just an observation of the arc of the stories taking place in this classic. Overall, a fun diversion for a rainy afternoon.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

SydSavvy

PARIS, TX, United States

29/02/16

Overall

Performance

Story

"Marvelous Adaptation and Reading"

I vaguely remember this movie, and have wanted to read the book for a long time. I just couldn't get into it though. Not so with this adaptation. It will pull you in so quick, and won't let you go. Excellent, excellent production. All the acting/reading is right on. You really won't miss what was cut.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Jessica

19/02/16

Overall

Performance

Story

"beautiful performance"

I don't usually get abridged books, and didn't realize that this was one, but I will say that despite its brevity the performances alone make this week worth a listen.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Jygperez

13/02/16

Overall

Performance

Story

"Depressing waste of time"

I found the main characters unlikeable, immoral, deceitful, revengeful. The story itself depressing and unsatisfying.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Steve Blanchette

12/02/16

Overall

Performance

Story

"Amazing voice acting!"

The acting is amazing and the story pulls you right in! Best free audible book yet!

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Klára Soos

06/02/16

Overall

Performance

Story

"Perfect in all aspects!"

I have read this book and have seen the film many times. Both were exceptionally good. I thought that an audible production would not come near either of those. I was wrong! Three cheers to the cast of this audio production! Impeccable in every aspects! *****

3 of 4 people found this review helpful

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